In the past few weeks, Tubby has become a symbol in efforts by some people of color to regain their trust of police.

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Cisco Jimenez of Little Chute holds a candle during the "Justice for Jonathon Rally" Friday night in downtown Green Bay. The event was organized by Black Lives United-Green Bay and Native Lives Matter after the death of Jonathon Tubby, who was killed by a Green Bay police officer on Oct. 19, 2018.(Photo: Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

The 26-year-old, who had attended the Oneida Nation School and enjoyed lacrosse and other sports, was shot and killed by a Green Bay officer Oct. 19 in the sally port of the Brown County Jail. He had been picked up on a felony warrant for failing to report to serve a 60-day sentence for a 2017 drunken-driving conviction.

Roughly 100 people rallied in support of Tubby at Green Bay's CityDeck Friday night, chanting and holding battery-powered candles in the 40-degree weather. Some held signs saying "Native Lives Matter," "Justice for Jonathon" or "Are cops above the law?"

In between chants Friday of "Justice for Jon-a-thon! Justice for Jon-a-thon!"and "The police. Are violent. We will not be silent," speakers demanded greater accountability from law-enforcement.

Several said they're offended the Green Bay officer who fired the fatal shot is back on administrative duty two weeks after the shooting, though an investigation likely won't be complete for a month or more.

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Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith held a press conference regarding an incident in which police shot a man to death while trying to take him to jail.
Paul Srubas, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Other speakers called for city police to release any video they might have of the events that led Officer Erik O'Brien to shoot and kill Tubby inside a secure garage-like area of the where people who've been arrested are delivered for booking.

'Say his name'

A number of people who spoke during the 90-minute gathering along the east shore of the Fox River called on community members to stand up, peacefully, for their rights. They also expressed hope that the community could heal.

But at least two speakers invoked a version of the word "murder."

"We know the kind of pain (Tubby's loved ones) are suffering," said Gabriel Black Elk, a Minnesota resident whose brother Paul Castaway was killed by Denver police during a 2015 schizophrenic episode in which he held a knife to his own throat. "Cops are not being held accountable for their murderous, treacherous violence."

Black Elk read the names of Tubby and 36 other Native Americans he said have been killed by police in recent years.

Several people at the rally carried "Say His Name" signs with names and drawings of persons of color killed by police: Tubby, Thurman Blevins in Minneapolis, Stephon Clark in Sacramento, Jason Pero in northern Wisconsin and Antwon Rose in Pittsburgh.

'Short of staff'

Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith said Friday night that DCI will submit its findings over to Brown County's district attorney when the investigation is complete. As is the case in all Wisconsin police shootings, the prosecutor will determine if the officer's actions merit a criminal charge.

Smith said he could not yet release any video from the case, and defended the decision to allow O'Brien and trainee Colton Wernecke — the two men in the patrol car with Tubby when he suddenly appeared to point an object at his chin on Oct. 19 — to return to work in a limited capacity. Wernecke did not use force, Smith said.

"Both officers have seen the psychologist; by all accounts they are ready to work in the station," he said via a text message. "I would rather have them back at work than sitting at home being paid to do nothing … we are too short of staff to have capable officers being paid to sit at home."

On Thursday, an Oneida man was accused in a criminal complaint with threatening to kill the officer who shot Tubby. Elliot Wilber, 33, is accused of posting a video to YouTube in which he threatened to kill O'Brien.

It remains unclear what, if anything, Tubby might have been pointing at himself, or why the incident escalated into a shooting. Smith has said he cannot yet discuss details.

This much is known: As the incident unfolded, police exchanged radio messages about possibly bringing a beanbag gun — less-lethal than a traditional gun — to the scene. They later brought in a BearCat — a specialized vehicle often used when a person is barricaded and poses a potential threat to himself or others.

DCI said in a press release days after the shooting that they have significant amounts of audio and video to review.

But they offered no hint of whether any recordings show the shooting.

Mad, sad

It's clear that members of the region's large Native American community are responding differently to the fact that one of their own was fatally shot in an incident that began downtown with what was apparently a routine Main Street traffic stop.

On Friday, rally organizer Stephanie Ortiz of Black Lives United-Green Bay asked participants to gather in groups based on the prevailing emotion they were feeling about Tubby's death. Some chose "scared," or "unsure."

But most chose "mad" or "sad."

Ortiz encouraged people to gather in circles, introduce themselves to others in the group, and share their feelings.

Isaac Robbs of Green Bay stood alone near the "other" group. He acknowledged "really struggling" with the loss of his friend.

"He was always around when you needed him," said Robbs. "I loved him. He was a brother to me."